1
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of
Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,
saying,
2You only have I known of
all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your
iniquities.
3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion
cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall
one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
Listen, Israel, to what God has said about you.
He said,
I brought you out of Egypt.
You're the only people on earth that I've ever known.
Therefore, I'm punishing you for all your iniquities.
6
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a
city, and the LORD hath not done it?
7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his
servants the prophets.
8
The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can
but prophesy?
9
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt,
and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the
great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10
For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and
robbery in their palaces.
11
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round
about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy
palaces shall be spoiled.
12Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion
two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out
that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
13
Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of
hosts,
14
That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I
will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be
cut off, and fall to the ground.
15
And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of
ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.